Dr. Kayode Obembe
Medical doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association will hold an emergency delegates meeting in Abuja (today), to review their demands and negotiations with the Federal Government.
According to one of delegates, the meeting was called to appraise the outcome of the Friday meeting that was held in Abuja between the members of the NMA’s National Executive Council ,the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Health and other top officials in the Federal Ministry of Health.
The source stated that the outcome of the meeting would determine whether the nationwide strike which is in its second week would be suspended.
He said, “We can’t call off the strike without the congress meeting. That is where we are going to decide whether or not we are satisfied with whatever agreement the executives have reached with the Federal Government. We will appraise what is on offer vis a vis our demands. Then we will take the stand of the house back to the government for further negotiation.
“Many of the issues raised in the letter we wrote to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation have not been addressed and it seems that they are playing politics with a very delicate situation that may cause anarchy and division in the health sector. It was surprising when we read in the news that the Federal government said it had reached an agreement with us.”
Medical doctors in the federal and state-owned hospitals had embarked on a nationwide strike on July 1 over issues relating to appointments of officers into choice positions in the nation’s public health institutions.
The NMA, in a 24-point demand letter to the Federal Government in June, directed that either such positions be reversed or doctors would embark on a nationwide strike.
However, there are indications that the industrial action may be suspended by this week after the delegates meeting which would have in attendance, the state chairmen and members of the NMA National Executive Council.
Meanwhile, patients have continued to bear the brunt of the action as medical services have been paralysed in public hospitals across the country. Relations, who could afford the huge treatment cost, have been moving their sick family members to private hospitals, while the poor rest their hope on divine healing.
Meanwhile, members of the Medical Consultants Association of Nigeria have opted out of the nationwide strike and assured the nation of uninterrupted hospital services.
The MDCAN National President, Dr. Steven Oluwole, said the group’s members were complying with the ruling of the National Industrial Court which stated that all parties should maintain the status quo till disputes were resolved.